Four Awesome Places to Study Abroad

To study abroad or not to study abroad? That is the question. Where to study abroad? That is the even more pressing question. This is a huge decision that every college student has to make at some point during his or her college career. Is it worth sacrificing a semester at your beloved college campus to journey to another part of the world and experience another culture? It is certainly a decision for every person to make on their own terms, but if you love adventure and you suffer from wanderlust, the only real question is where to?

Once you make the decision to study abroad, there is a grueling selection process ahead of you that you should be prepared for mentally and spiritually. Yes, study abroad can often be so complicated, it jars a little part of your soul. Not to worry — we are here to help you sort out your best options, so that you have the best experience abroad possible.

Street-side Cafe in Paris, France (barloga.com)

1. Paris, France. Paris a romanticized city that appeals to many different types of people. If you’ve dreamed of the Eiffel Tower and the Cathedral of Notre Dame every night since you were eight, and you’ve always pictured yourself riding a quaint little bike with a baguette in the basket, then you should definitely keep Paris on your list of options. Most people who study abroad in France know that is where they want to go way ahead of time; usually because they have studied the language in school for years with the dead-set intention of going there. France is a particular place where you will almost certainly have to know French fluently in order to study there.

Copenhagen, Denmark (cntraveler.com)

2. Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen is another brilliant option to consider for your study abroad journey. Apart from the Danish being notoriously beautiful and friendly people, they keep their city as pristine and picturesque as a storybook. Copenhagen is extremely green; they are the first carbon-neutral capital in the world. They focus on green initiatives; they use clean wind-powered energy, and the bicycle culture is prevalent around the city, reducing the number of cars and pollution. Beyond that, this city is full of resources and unique opportunities for any major.

Melbourne, Australia (emprgroup.com)

3. Melbourne, Australia. If you have a sense of adventure and are open to new experiences, Melbourne might be the place for you. Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, and the bustling cultural nerve-center for the state. This city is full of art, music, and theaters — definitely a plus for a cultured city like Melbourne. The people in Australia are notoriously open and friendly, so you can expect to make lots of friends during your stay. The beaches have surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, scuba diving and more; just don’t let all of these exciting activities distract you from your studies! Also keep in mind that Australia is surprisingly expensive, so when it comes to your budget, Australia will be right up there with London and Paris.

Outside of Temple Bar in Dublin, Ireland (eveandersson.com)

4. Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is a large, welcoming city full of interesting people and a rich thousand-year history. Dublin is the largest city in all of Ireland and the capital city, with a population of about 1.5 million. Although it is a stereotype that all Irish are heavy drinkers, you will surely be shown a good time if you study abroad in Dublin. There are hundreds of great little traditional Irish pubs and friendly people to show them to you. You will also probably come into contact with plenty of other international students, as Ireland is a popular destination for many European students abroad. If you decide Ireland is the place for you, be sure to bring an umbrella; the climate in Dublin is prone to rainy days.

Where do you want to study abroad? Leave a response in the comments below or shoot me a tweet @JenksUOhMeASoda

About Hannah Jenkins

Hannah Jenkins is the genius inventor of the toaster strudel and a compulsive liar. She is a Communications major at Fordham University, an intern at WindUp Records, and is a member of the same club rugby team as fellow blogger and friend Carolyn Ambrosich. Hannah’s area of focus is music/entertainment and fashion. If you enjoy mildly funny observational humor coming from an abrasive and highly opinionated/empowered woman, follow me on Twitter @JenksUOhMeASoda